Lighter



A. POLLAK April 14, 1931.

LIGHTER Filed Jan'. 1o. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY Patented pr. 14,. 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT oFr-'lcE um IPOLLLI, Ol' IAB EOCKAWAY, NEW YORK, ASQIGNOB TO AM IETAL WORKS, INC., Ol' NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, A. CORPORATION OF NEW mm2' LIGHTER Application ill'ed January. 10, 1988. Serial' lo. 381,478.

This invention relates to improvements in automatic lighters.

One of the objects of this invention is to produce a lighter operable to lightupon the movement of a slidmg element in one direction and preferably upon movement of a wind shield mounted on the top of a reservoir,

Another object is to produce a lighter of the type above s eciiied in which movement of the said slide 1n the reverse direction will extinguish the light, and in which said reverse movement will be accomplished automatically.

Another object of this invention is to produce a lighter operable upon the movement of a sliding element to move a wick cap to uncover the wick and simultaneously to ro'- tate a fiint wheel to cause a shower of sparks from a pyrophoric element to light said wick and thereafter by a reverse movement of said slide automatically to reset said sparkin apparatus for operation and to extinguish the light. R5 Still another object of my invention is to provide simpleand inexpensive connecting mechanism between an operating slidingl element and a rotatable sparking wheel w derehy movementof the sliding element in one dlrection will cause a shower of sparks to be thrown toward a wick in a direction opposite to the movement of said operating slide. Still another object of the invention is to produce a lighter operable by the movement .of a sliding wind-shield mounted on the top of a reservoir from the forward to the rear edge thereof to cause a. movement of a hood and sparking element in anti-'clockwise direction to throw a shower of sparks forwardly toward a wick arranged between said spar-hing mechanism land the front edge of the casing. v

Still another object of my invention is to combine such simplified spark-wheel operating-mechanism with a wick-extinguishing cap to cause a lifting movement of the cap simultaneously with the operation of the spark wheel and an automatic extinguishing movement thereof bly; a spring-pressed ree s li able verse movement of t wind-shield.

Still another object of my invention is to provide such an operative connection between a slide and a spark-wheel so as to procure the necessary quick-acting sparkthrowing movement of the 'spark-wheel upon s'rc'platively slight manual movement of the s 1 e.

Still another object of my invention is to provide such a simple operative eccentric connection between a slide and spark wheel preferably comprising a disc, having an operative eccentric connection on one 51de with a slide through a vertical slot in the slide and having at the opposite side an eccentric connection with op( rating means for the sparkwheel and wic -extinguishing cap.

Still another object of my invention is to provide on the to plate of a reservoir a slide element and pre erably a wind-shield movable in guideways rearwardly and forwardly on said top plate, and arranged for manual movement in one direction and s ring means formoving the same automatica y in the opposite direction, said slide element being o erable manually to throw a shower of spar toward the wick and preferably to simulta neously raise a Wick-extinguishing element, and being operable by a reverse automatic movement of the slide to reset the sparking mechanism in sition for another operative movement an to simultaneously move the wick cap to extinguishing)position.v

With these and other o )ects in view, the invention comprises the combination of members and arrangement of parts so combined as to co-act and cooperate with each other in the performance of the functions and the accomplishment of the results herein contemplated, and comprises in one of its adaptations the s ecies or preferred form illusfili trated in t e accompanying drawings, in

which z- Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a lighter embodying my invention, showing the parts in 1-no erative position;

iig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing the s ide afterl having been moved rearwardly to raise the cap and ignite the wick;

Fig/3 is a lon 'tudinal section, showing the parte in nomini` position;

l m ignited and the cap ralsed;

Fig. 7 is a. plan view of the device shown in Figs. 1 to 6 with the garts in o erative position with the cap raise and wic ignited Fig. 8 is a section on the line 8-8 of Flg. 5; Fig. 9 is a section on the line 9--9 of Fig. 5

Fig. 10 is a section on the line 10-10 of Fig. 11 is a. detailed view, in perspective, of my eccentric operating connection between A igniting and extinguishing parts of the mechanism Fig.12 is a detailed sectional view, showing pawl and ratchet mechanism for connecting the hood with the spark-wheel, the section being taken on the line 12--12 of Fig. 13; and

Fig. 13 is a bottom view of hood shown in Fig. 12.

Referring now to these drawings, whichI illustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention, 1 indicates a fuel reservoir of the conventional type having a topplate 1 and a bottom plate 1'L provided with the usual cap 2 for permitting fuel to be charged into the reservoir. A `wick 3 passes at its upper end through a tubular wie` holder 3 screwed into the to plate 1 and in the form illustrated, a pyrop oric tube 4 extends vertically through the reservoir and through said top plate 1' and is provided with a pyrophoric element 5 Iwhich is normally forced upwardly by a spring 6 into operative engagement with a spark-wheel 7 mounted on a shaft or spindle 8 supported in oppositely-disposed upright brac ets 9 which, in the preferred form of my invention shown, are formed in one piece with a track-spacing plate 9 resting upon the top of the reservoir and fastened to the top plate by the wick tube and by the pyrophoric tube. Also mounted on and fastened to the top plate 50 by the wick holder and pyrophoric tube is a track plate 10. The plate 10 is wider than the plate 9 and forms on opposite sides of the plate 9V and between the top plate 1 and said plate 10 grooves 11, 11 in which grooves is slidably mounted by means of inwardly-directed ianges 12', 12a an operating element 12 which, in the form shown, comprises a windshield and extends around and is normally flush with the perimeter of the top plate l and preferably has at its front end a knob 12b for manual operation. The slidable operating element 12 is normally held in its forward position flush with the perimeter of the top plate 1 by means of a spring 13 sur- 65 rounding a `plunger pin 14 and preferably the cap and iosition with the cap 4 partiall enclosed within a casing mounte onthe track-plate 10.

It is necessary in devices of this tipe to procure a rapid rotation of the spark-w eel in order to procure a suicient shower of s arks to ignite the wick and, in the present em odia. ment of my invention, I havel not only-procured a quick-acting mechanism but have rovided means for operating this mechanism irom a slidable element movable in adirec tion opposite to that in whichthe igniting sparks are thrown and, furthermore, have provided a simple operative connection as opposed to a compound gearing connection between such a slide and the ignition wheel, the compound gearing connection being too complicated and impractical for devices of this character. .y

In order to accomplish my pu ose, I rovide in the slidable element whic as a oresaid,` in the form shown comprises a windshield, a vertical slot 12 and make a connection through this vertical slotwith an eccentric on a pivoted swinging member operable to produce a rapid rotation of the sparkwheel and to cause a shower of sparks from ortube 1.5.., I

the pyrophoric element 5 to be thrown in a direction opposite to the movement of the slide. As illustrated, my swinging element preferably comprises a swinging hood 16 havmg a pivotal movement on the shaft 8 and having a connection disposed eccentric of its pivot with vertical slot 12 in the slidable wind-shield 12.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention, the eccentric connection between the hood 16'and the slide '12 isy formed by mounting axially on the outer en'd of the shaft 8 between the bearing brackets and the slide 12 discs 17. Said discs are provided on one face with an eccentric projection 17 extending through arcuate guide slots 9 in the bearing brackets 9 to engage opposite sides of the swinging hood eccentrically and said discs have on their other faces eccentric projections 17 P extending into the vertical slots in the slidable wind-shield. Thus a movement of the slide 12 will exert pressure on the eccentric projections 17 f* so as to cause them to move upwardly in the slots 12 and the discs 17 on which the eccentric projections are mounted, to rotate. This rotation of the discs which, as aforesaid, carry on their opposite faces "eccentric projections 17', cause the abrupt spark-wheel to be driven in one direction only during the movement in op osite directions of the hood, and to this en the spark- Wheel is fixedly mounted on a sleeve 18 formed integral with a ratchet wheel 19, said sleeve and ratchet wheel being loosely mounted on the shaft, anda pivoted pawl 20, carried by the hood 17 and, as shown, pivoted on a pin 20', is normally pressed into operative engagement with the'ratchet Wheel 19 by a ilat spring 21 also mounted on the hood 16.

As illustrated, the hood 16 also preferably carries a. wick-extinguishing cap 22 and in the form illustrated, the cap 22 and spring 21 are fastened to the hood 16 by a single screw 23. Obviously u on movementof the hood 16 in the upvvarc direction by the slide 12, the avvl and ratchet wheel 19 will connect the ood to the spark wheel for movement in one direction, the pavvl 20 engaging a tooth oi the ratchet wheel and that movement iny the opposite direction of the hood by the sprin 13 will cause the pawl simply to click overt e teeth oi the ratchet Wheel 19.

peration of the device will be apparent :from the above description,

Having described my invention, I claim l. A lighter embodying, in combination, a iuel reservoir having a top plate, sparking mechanism mounted upon said top plate including a rotatably-mounted spark-Wheel, a Wick tube projecting above said to plate, an operating element for said spark-Wheel slidably mounted on said reservoir, said spark-Wheel having associated therewith. an eccentric projection extending laterally and said operating element having a slot connection With said pro 'ection 2. A lighter em dying, in combination, a fuel reservoir having a top plate, sparking mechanism mounted upon said top plate including a rotatably-mounted spark-vvheel, a 'Wick tube projecting above said top plate, an o erating element ibor said spark-Wheel slida ly mounted on said reservoir, said slidable operating element and sparkwvheel having an operative connection arranged eccentrically of the spark-wheel and through a vertical slot in said operating element.

3. A lighter embodying, in combination, a fuel reservoir having a top plate, sparking mechanism mounted upon said to plate including a rotatably-mounted s ar -Wheel, a Wick tube projecting above sai top plate, an operating element for said spark-wheel slidi ably mounted on said top plate, a pivoted hood mounted over; said spark-Wheel, said slidable operating element, spark-Wheel and hood having an operative connection arranged eccentrically of the spark-vvheel and hood and through a slot in said operating element. v

fl. A lighter embodying, in combination, a fuel reservoir having a top plate, sparking mechanism mounted upon said top plate including a rotatably-mounted spark-wheel, a wick tube projectino` above said top plate, an o rating element ihr said spark-Wheel slida ly mounted on said top plate, a pivoted hood mounted over said' spark-wheel, said slidable operating element, spark-wheel and hood having an operative connection arranged eccentrically of the spark-wheel and hood and through a slot in said operating element, and a mok-covering and extinguishing cap carried by said hood.

5. A lighter embodying, in combination, a fuel reservoir having a top plate, sparking mechanism mounted upon said to plate including a rotatably-mounted spar vvheel, a wick tube projecting above said to plate, an operating element for said spar -wheel slidably mounted on said top plate and adapted to bemoved in one direction, .a pivoted hood mounted over said spark-Wheel, said slidable operating element, spark-wheel and hood having an operative connection arranged eccentrically of the spark-Wheel and hood and through a slotin said operating element, a spiral spring and plunger arranged in a casing on the top of said reservoir for moving said operating element in the opposite direction. A

6. A lighter embodying, in combination, a fuel reservoir having a top plate, sparking mechanism mounted upon said to plate including a rotatably-mounted s ar -vvheel, a wick tube projecting above sai top plate, an operating element for said spark-vvl1eel slidably mounted on said top plate and adapted to bemoved in one direction, a pivoted hood mounted over said spark-wheel, said slidable operating element, spark-wheel and hood having an operative connection arranged eccentrically of the spark-wheel and hood and through a slot in saidl operating element, a spiral spring and plunger ar ranged in a casing on the top of said reservoir for moving said operating element in the opposite direction, said operating element com-Y prising a Wind-shield, and means for limiting the vmovement oi said Wind-shield in opposite directions.

i', A lighter embodying, in combination, a iuel reservoir having a top plate,` sparking mechanism mounted upon said top plate inn cluding a rotatably-mounted spark-Wheel, a Wick tube projecting above said top plate, an o erating element for said sparkfvvheel slida ly mounted on said Itop plate and adapted to be moved in one direction, a pivoted hood mounted over said spark-Wheel, said slidable operating element, spark-wheel and hood having an operative connection arranged eccentrically of the spark-Wheel and hood and through a slot in said operating element, and a spiral spring and plunger arranged in a casing on the top of said reservoir for moving said operating element in the op? posite direction.

4 imon- 8. A lighter embodying, in combination, a fuel reservoir havi a top plate, sparking mechanism mounte upon said top late including a rotatably-mounted ark-w eel, 5 a wick tube projecting above sai tog plate an o rating element for said slpar hee 'slidahiy mounted on said` top p ate a pivoted hood mounted over said spark-wheel, said slidable o erating element and hoodhav.-y w in an operative connection arranged eccentrlcally of the hood and through a slot inA said operating element, a ratchet wheel and pawl connection between said hood and spark-wheel, and a wick-extinguishing cap carriedby said hood.

9. A lighter embodying, in combination, a fuel reservoir having a top plate, a yrophoric tube extending through sai `to plate, a spark-wheel rotatably mounted adjacent to said pyrophoric tube, track grooves on said reservoir, a wind-shield slidably mounted in said track grooves, a hoodarf ranged about said sparking mechanism, a ratchet wheel and pawl for connecting said g5 sparking mechanism and hood to rotate in one direction, a Vwick-extinguishing cap carrier by said hood, and a connecting element comprising a disc dis osed between said hood and wind-shield, having an eccentric connecl ao tion with said hood and having a slot and pin connection with said slidable windshield. c In witness whereof, I have signed my name to the foregoing specification.

ABRAHAM POLLAK. 

